Video Game Beta Testers – Can I Really Get Paid To Play Video Games?

Many people make a living as a video game beta tester. What this means is that they get paid to find bugs in beta versions of upcoming video games. The reason for this is quite simple. For the game company, it is financially beneficial to pay professional game testers to thoroughly test a game and all of it’s features so that it meets consumer expectations, and so that it is the best quality that can possibly be achieved.Generally speaking, here’s how you get started: you contact a few game developers & game companies and you persuade them to hire you as a beta tester. In a nutshell, that’s basically what needs to be done. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately though, it is much easier said than done.The best way to “persuade” these companies and developers is by showing them your overwhelming amount of expertise in the video game industry; things like your skill level as a gamer, your ability to accurately document glitches and bugs, your ability to follow instructions to the letter, and so on and so forth. Occasionally, it means making them an offer they can’t refuse, such as testing a few video games for free (GULP). Why test them for free? Well, to get your foot in the door and show them that your a dedicated tester that just loves to play video games. Remember, they are looking for true blue game testers that can be remarkably efficient when testing video games.When you begin landing video game tester jobs, you are generally sent a free copy in the mail as well as a questionnaire and “report” to fill out. Typically, you’ll be given an assignment to complete that either involves beating the entire game from start to finish or playing one level over & over & again. It really just depends on the information the developer needs.Once you get your assignment, it’s time to go to work. Complete the assignment, fill out the form or questionnaire, and then mail it back to the game developer. It’s important to be fast with your video game testing and, at the same time, you must be professional as well. With that being said, get the work done quickly but make sure it is done accurately and without mistakes. After they have received your report, you will be issued a check in the mail. Typically, the checks are paid every other week to the video game beta tester.To be a good game tester, you have to have an eye for detail, as well as the ability to play certain parts of a game repeatedly. At the same time, you have to be able to properly document errors and glitches that you find, which will be done via the bug reporting form.When it comes to getting started and finding your first video game tester job, there are two paths you can walk. Path 1: You go out on your own and do everything completely by yourself without any help from anyone or anything. Path 2: You research and read through the numerous resources & testing guides in order to find a “tried, tested, and proven” approach that others have achieved success with. Obviously, the path you choose is up to you, but personally, I’d go with option 2. Why? Because video game testing is an industry made up of teams, not solo gamers. Plus, why would you want to “reinvent the wheel” when you can just improve upon it?There you have it; a quick & simple guide on how to get paid as a video game beta tester.